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20.03.2017
Intersec Forum established as platform for future-oriented questions

Digitalisation and security in buildings: aims and challenges for planners, contractors and operators

180 participants in the conference forums and guided tours

This year’s Intersec Forum was once again a complete success thanks to its topical spectrum, expert speakers and attractive programme of events. 180 participants – specialists for planning, installing and operating security technology in buildings – from industry, politics and authorities discussed the future role of integrated and networked security solutions in tomorrow’s buildings.

“This edition of Intersec Forum has more than come up to expectations: the extended programme of events attracted 20 percent more participants to Frankfurt than at last year’s première – a good foundation on which to establish Intersec Forum as an annual conference here in Frankfurt”, said Iris Jeglitza-Moshage, Senior Vice President, Messe Frankfurt, on the final day of the conference.

Speakers and participants energetically and enthusiastically put forward their points of view regarding the degree of integration required in the commercial and private building sectors – and, therefore, the need to weigh up the security risks from internet attacks, against the opportunities for user friendliness and comfort. Nevertheless, they agreed on the need to give priority to security issues: “IT security in connection with ever greater digitalisation in buildings, products and services is not just a cost factor but the basis for successful business in the future. Therefore, a secure IT infrastructure must be given top priority and firmly fixed in entrepreneurial hands”, explained Arne Schönbohm, President of the German Federal Office for Information Security (Bundesamt für Sicherheit in der Informationstechnik – BSI).This conclusion was repeated frequently in the forum and many of the discussions.

The Industry Dialogue for Planners and Installers (Forum 1) focused on legal and entrepreneurial aspects, as well as the new professional challenges facing the sector. For participant Torsten Sohlbach, engineer for security technology in the banking sector, Intersec Forum provided interesting insights into the networking status of other sectors. “For us as operators of integrated building security systems, the challenge is to integrate the various technologies without taking the risky step of using cloud-based systems. Today’s Industry Dialogue for Planners & Installers took an initial critical look at the liability risk of the new IP world. In the future, there should be a much more precise definition of the responsibilities and levels of technical expertise of the participating parties, i.e., manufacturers and suppliers on the one hand and contractors and operators on the other, at least in sensitive infrastructures.”

The conference programme was oriented towards topical subjects in the fields of fire-alarm systems, emergency lighting, networking monitoring, entry-control systems, residential security and IT and cyber security, as well as new business models and services for tomorrow’s digital buildings. The conference participants were especially pleased with the wide range of subjects covered by the 40 speakers, the opportunity to exchange ideas and opinions with colleagues and the practice-oriented events, such as the live demonstration of a hacking attack on process networks in the industry, and the two guided tours to the Operation Security Center (OSC) of Messe Frankfurt and the Baggage Control Centre of Frankfurt Airport operator, Fraport.

180 participants from all over Germany and, for the first time, from abroad – from Switzerland, Austria and Slovenia – travelled to Frankfurt am Main for the second edition of the two-day Conference for Networked Security Technology (2016: 150).

Intersec Forum is the conference for topical issues arising from the integration of security systems, which makes it an unrivalled, future-oriented event for everyone professionally involved with the development of products and solutions, as well as with the planning, installation, operation and digital integration of building-related security technology in the fields of fire protection, surveillance, entry control and building automation. This year, it was held concurrently with ISH – The World’s Leading Trade Fair for The Bathroom Experience, Building Services, Energy, Air Conditioning Technology and Renewable Energies.

The Intersec Forum Cooperation Partner is German Electrical and Electronic Manufacturers’ Association (Zentralverband Elektrotechnik- und Elektronikindustrie e.V. – ZVEI). “Cyber security is an indispensable aspect of the digital revolution and it is essential to find interdisciplinary answers to these challenges. Intersec Forum is an important platform for this”, said Dr. Klaus Mittelbach, Chairman of the ZVEI Board of Management.

In the expanding international sector for civil security, Messe Frankfurt is one of the leading organisers of fairs and congresses with ten events at present. The company’s events for the safety and security sector are held in Germany, Asia, the Middle East, South America and East Africa and offer optimum opportunities for companies to gain a foothold in these dynamic markets. Further information at www.safety-security.messefrankfurt.com

The next Intersec Forum will be held in the Portalhaus building of Frankfurt Fair and Exhibition Centre on 20 and 21 March 2018 – concurrently with Light + Building – The world’s leading trade fair for lighting and building services technology. The Intersec Forum will take place on the Tuesday and Wednesday of the fair.

The ZVEI represents the common interests of the electrical industry and the associated service providers in Germany and in the international sphere. Around 1,600 companies, most of them small to medium sized, are members of the ZVEI.

The sector has 851,000 employees in Germany and over 680,000. In 2014, the turnover of the sector amounted to approximately € 172 billion.

Overall, the original impulse for one in three innovations in the manufacturing industry comes from the electrical industry. Further information: www.zvei.org

Background information on Messe FrankfurtMesse Frankfurt is the world’s largest trade fair, congress and event organiser with its own exhibition grounds. With some 2,400 employees at 30 locations, the company generates annual sales of over €640 million. Thanks to its far-reaching ties with the relevant sectors and to its international sales network, the Group looks after the business interests of its customers effectively. A comprehensive range of services – both onsite and online – ensures that customers worldwide enjoy consistently high quality and flexibility when planning, organising and running their events. The wide range of services includes renting exhibition grounds, trade fair construction and marketing, personnel and food services.
With its headquarters in Frankfurt am Main, the company is owned by the City of Frankfurt (60 percent) and the State of Hesse (40 percent).